The China Olympics are over, but sports themselves seem to be as old as civilization—or the human race, if you’ll pardon the pun. I’m fascinated by the series of works by Australian aboriginal artist, Wingla Dada (also known as Brian Fisher), depicting the legend-based origins of various sports.

In The Origin of Swimming (above), the Rainbow Serpent is seen carving out the canals that became rivers and streams. In the center is an early aboriginal swimmer, attempting to imitate the superior swimming technique of fish.

I recommend taking a look at Wingla Dada’s entire series, An Aboriginal Version of the Olympic Games and reading about the legends behind the works. And if you like that series, you’ll also want to check out the artist's Dreamtime series.

If you’ve ever driven a companion (or yourself) crazy by pacing back and forth and all around to get the best camera or easel angle for a landscape, you’ll appreciate this exercise I found about shape and space.

Here’s the idea: Imagine traveling in a large circle and taking four photographs along the way. After developing the photos, you get them out of order. Could you put them back in sequence on the basis of the spatial relationship of the structures you had passed?

Okay, now that you have the idea, check out “I Took a Trip on a Train” and see how you do.

(Go to http://www.learner.org/teacherslab/math/geometry/space/train/index.html.)

Note from Grace: This is our associate editor Holly's first post on the blog, so give her a round of applause!


My fascination with Michelangelo's painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling goes way back. I remember hearing an elementary school classmate speak of the pope's impatience with the painter to complete his masterpiece, and I envisioned the Pope rushing into the chapel and shouting up to Michelangelo, "Aren't you done yet?! How much longer?" When I heard that Michelangelo lay on his back while painting the ceiling frescoes, I imagined paint drips on his face and sore arms. The myths and methods concerning the chapel ceiling have meant as much to me, sometimes more, as the frescoes themselves.

That's why I'm enthralled with the exhibition "Vatican Splendors from Saint Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Swiss Guard," which just happens to correspond with the 500th anniversary of Michelangelo's painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling (not to mention the building of Saint Peter's Basilica, the founding of the Vatican Museums and the establishment of the Papal Swiss Guard).

Oh, the relics, papal rings and jewels, tiaras, embroidered silk vestments, swords, armor, mosaics, sculptures and paintings are appealing—and works by Bernini, Giotto and Guercino certainly command a draw—but what really grabs me is the recreated environment of the scaffolding near the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Imagine getting a Michelangelo's-eye view of the ceiling frescoes (or copies thereof).

Check out "Vatican Spendors" for yourself at one of its three US venues:

• Through May 11
Florida International Museum
St. Petersburg, Florida

• May 31-Sept. 7
The Western Reserve Historical Society
Cleveland, Ohio

• Opening Sept. 27
Minnesota History Center
St. Paul, Minnesota

Photo credit: Evergreen Exhibitions